For her followers her courageous stand in early 1950s Britain in braving bailiffs and court appearances to demand a Welsh language tax bill made her the Rosa Parks of Wales.

For her followers her courageous stand in early 1950s Britain in braving bailiffs and court appearances to demand a Welsh language tax bill made her the Rosa Parks of Wales.

And after 16 court appearances Eileen Beasley was left with little but an empty house to show for her fight to put Welsh on an equal footing with English.

But Mrs Beasley, who died of pancreatic cancer aged 91 on Sunday, has been described as the “mother of direct action” in Wales, whose protest led to the creation of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (the Welsh Language Society).

Language activists yesterday paid tribute to Mrs Beasley, saying her courage alongside fellow campaigner and husband Trefor inspired a generation to take up the fight and led to crucial milestones like the creation of S4C and bilingual signage.

Mrs Beasley, from Llangennech, near Llanelli, eventually won her battle with her local rural district council for a tax demand in Welsh.

But her eight-year stand beginning in 1952 saw bailiffs remove all the couple’s possessions right down to treasured wedding gifts.

Former Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (Welsh Language Society) chair Angharad Tomos said: “I would call her the founder of Cymdeithas yr Iaith because what she did in 1952 in asking for a Welsh form – nobody had ever done that before.”

The couple juggled with a young family as well as fighting to advance the language – their children Delyth and Elidyr were born in the midst of their struggle for a bilingual form.

Ms Tomos added: “They (the bailiffs) even took the carpets and it was just an empty living room. The only thing they left was some jam her husband had made.”

The Society paid tribute to the Beasley family at a public meeting and in a special stand on the National Eisteddfod maes last week.

The stand, aside from a selection of jams, was left empty to symbolise the parlour of the Beasleys’ family home.

Each pot was designed to represent milestones for the Welsh language, including S4C and bilingual road signs.

Elidyr Beasley, 60, said his mother, who as well as her two children is survived by six grand-children, enjoyed robust health until she was diagnosed with cancer just weeks ago.

His mother, who as well as her political activity worked as a teacher, returned to her childhood home in Henllan Amgoed, Whitland, Carmarthenshire, before her death.

Mr Beasley said: “She’s had outstanding health until very recently.

“She’d been in Glangwili (Hospital) and once it was diagnosed there was very little that could be done.

“She was fortunate in coming back to her own home to survive for another week and a half.”

Mr Beasley said beyond her political work his mother was devoted to her children.

“She was a very caring mother, who did her best for us and tried to get us interested as young children in everything of value.”

Adam Phillips, chairman of Balchder Cymru (Pride of Wales), said Mrs Beasley’s contribution to the Welsh language bears comparison with Rosa Parks’ efforts for the civil rights movement in America when she refused to stand up on a bus for a white passenger.

He said: “To have bailiffs come into your house and take everything you own because you refuse to pay on a point of principle – imagine the shame of that in those days with people looking down their noses at you.

“It’s people like these activists that make things happen. She and her husband did it peacefully, but suffered for it.”

Her funeral will be held on Thursday morning at Henllan Amgoed Chapel and the family have asked for donations to go to Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg.

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